Spectacle Spring Hinge with Concealed Axis and Replaceable Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spring hinge designs for spectacles face challenges in assembly complexity, visibility of the hinge axis, and inability to replace the hinge part after assembly, particularly in concealed arrangements, due to requirements for threaded holes and external visibility of the hinge axis.
Innovation Solution
A closure piece with a connecting flange is used to house the helical spring, allowing the spring to be inserted transversely and supported on the slider web and the closure piece itself, eliminating the need for a separate abutment and enabling easy assembly and concealment of the hinge axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a threaded hole and separate abutment are used to anchor the hinge part, then the hinge can be securely fixed, but the assembly complexity increases and the hinge axis becomes visible from the outside
Solution Approach 1:
The abutment is merged with the closure piece itself, forming an integrated structure where the closure piece serves both as the housing closure and as the abutment for the helical spring. This eliminates the need for a separate abutment component and simplifies the assembly process while maintaining secure fixation of the hinge part.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge axis is extracted from the visible exterior and repositioned to be concealed within the structure. The closure piece design allows the hinge axis to be anchored internally without protruding or being visible from the outside, achieving both secure fixation and aesthetic concealment.
2Reliability
If a box-shaped housing with welded insertion is used, then the hinge part is securely anchored, but the hinge part cannot be replaced after assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The closure piece is designed as a separable component that can be removed from the frame. The hinge part is anchored to the closure piece rather than being permanently welded to the frame, creating modular segments that can be independently replaced. This maintains secure anchoring during use while enabling replacement when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between the closure piece and the frame is made dynamic rather than static. The closure piece can be detached and reattached, allowing the hinge part to be replaced after assembly. This dynamic connection provides both secure fixation during operation and adaptability for future replacements.
3Ease of manufacture
If the helical spring is inserted axially into the housing, then the assembly is simplified, but a separate abutment is required which increases design effort
Solution Approach 1:
The abutment function is merged into the closure piece structure. The closure piece is designed with an integrated abutment surface that directly supports the helical spring, eliminating the need for a separate abutment component. This maintains assembly simplicity while reducing design effort for additional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure piece is given multiple functions: it serves as the housing closure, as the abutment for the helical spring, and as the mounting structure for the hinge part. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated abutment components while maintaining assembly simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design simplifies the assembly process, allows for a concealed spring hinge arrangement with reduced design effort, and enables easy disassembly and replacement of the hinge parts, resulting in a stable and aesthetically pleasing construction.
Implementation Method 1
a helical spring (13) which is supported on the one hand on a web (14) connecting the two legs (12) of the slider and on the other hand on the closure piece (9)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A spring hinge is described between a temple arm and a temple of spectacles, comprising two hinge parts (3, 4) each belonging to one of these spectacle parts (1, 2). One of these hinge parts forms a bearing fork (6) with a hinge axis (5) for receiving the other hinge part (3), which is slidably guided in a housing (9) by means of a sliding piece (7). A helical spring (13) is arranged between two legs (12) of the sliding piece (7), which is supported on one side by a bridge (14) of the sliding piece (7) connecting the two legs (12) and on the other side by a housing-fixed abutment. To achieve simple assembly conditions, it is proposed that the housing (9) has a closure piece forming a receiving opening (8) of the associated spectacle part (1) for the sliding piece (7), which also forms the abutment for the helical spring (13).